as in shiver
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shudder
Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
To be frank, Bug is a nightmarish experience — but not in an overt, shudder-inducing way.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Sat shuddering in my seat as the lights drew down.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Noun
The age of trade protectionism returned to America in 2025 with the shudder of a closing customs gate.
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
To be frank, Bug is a nightmarish experience — but not in an overt, shudder-inducing way.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
That all came to a shuddering halt after Khashoggi’s death.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Sat shuddering in my seat as the lights drew down.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shudder
Noun
-
Loznitsa’s methods are grim and exacting, but the effect is never monotonous; there are shivers of Hitchcockian suspense, plus a whispery cackle of satire that veers toward the Kafkaesque.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Algebra in between scenes… sends shivers down my spine!—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another climb for oil prices shook stock markets on Friday, as hopes collapsed for a possible cut to interest rates this year by the Federal Reserve.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Heavy explosions shook Dubai early Friday as air defenses intercepted incoming fire over the city, where people were observing Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and mosques made the day's first call to prayers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Furman is one of a kind: a trans, devoutly Jewish former rabbinical student who’s written a book about Lou Reed and sings folk-punk songs in a mercurial tremble.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
-
Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
We are jerked between past and present as his backstory gets filled in, one jogged memory at a time.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For a moment, the plane quivered around them like a greyhound straining on a leash.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The mesmerizing evolution reaches its peak when a quivering guitar solo jettisons into view.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The clubhouses were outfitted with merch stands, bars, restrooms, DJs, livestreams of panels, Royal Blue vending machines and vibrating hammocks.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Others vibrate when exposed to high enough levels.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shudder. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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